Meanwhile the wives, accustomed to such proceedings, would have dinner brought up and removed three successive times, and at last adjourned till the next day.
At times like these Anton often thought of Fink, who, despite his reluctance, had at least taught him to get through such ordeals as these respectably.
One afternoon, while Anton was sitting watching a game at dominoes, an old lieutenant, looking off his newspaper, called to the players, "Yesterday evening one of our hussars had two fingers of his right hand smashed.

The ass who was quartered with him had been playing with his carabine, which was loaded.

The doctor thinks amputation unavoidable.

I am sorry for the fine fellow: he was one of the most efficient of our squadron.

These misfortunes always happen to the best." "What is the man's name ?" asked Herr von Bolling, going on with his game.
"It is Corporal Sturm." Anton sprang up, making all the pieces on the table dance again, and asked where he was to be found.
The lieutenant described the situation of the Lazaretto.